French Bureau
Proofs, Essays and Imperforates (Part 5)

by David Lamb & Alec Jacques

1961/71 Postage and Airs

(Yv 153A/64 + 204, PA 5/8)

General comments

The previous definitives of 1955/8 had only a short life by
Andorran standards, having to be replaced in 1961 because of the
revaluation of the French franc (100 'old' francs = 1 'new' franc).
The postage values comprised three different designs as follows:-
the Andorran Coat of Arms, designed by Robert Louis and engraved by
André Barre; the Meritxell Cross, designed and engraved by Charles
Mazelin; and Lake Engolasters, designed and engraved by Pierre
Gandon.

The airmail design, featuring the Incles Valley, was designed
and engraved by Claude Durrens.

It is with this new series that we first encounter the colour
trials (essais de couleur) which are known for many issues of France
since 1939.

Die Proofs

Similar to the l944/5l and 1955/8 issues, the master-dies were
denominated, and were as follows:

Andorran Coat of Arms

20c

Meritxell Cross

25c

Lake Engolasters

65c

Incles Valley

5f

These proofs exist in one or more colours per proof. They are
signed in pencil by the engraver, and all bear the official seal of
the Printing Works. This seal takes the form of an embossed double
circle which measures 28mm in diameter. It features the inscription
"IMPRIMERIE DES TIMBRES-POSTE" around the perimeter and has the word
"CONTROLE" in the centre. This seal is positioned in the lower left
corner of the proof, and the number of proofs issued in each design
is just eighteen examples

Check-List

20c

black

Coat of Arms

EA G

20c

black & yellow

EA G

(proof of the stamp and the two separate parts of the shield)

25c

black

Meritxell cross

EA G

25c

sepia

EA G

65c

black

Lake Engolasters

EA G

65c

bluish green

EA G

65c

indigo blue

EA G

5f

black

Incles Valley

EA G

Colour Trials

The purpose of these trials (essais de couleur) was for the postal
and governmental officials to see the designs and to assist them in
their choice of the various colours for the forthcoming new stamps.
These trials are usually printed in one, two or three colours or
shades, and also in various combinations over the sheet, and are best
collected in vertical strips of five (if at all possible!)

They are printed from the same plates as used for the issued stamps
that were printed by the Recess method. However, they are obviously
printed before the issued stamps and, therefore, the colour trials
all have coins-datés prior to those of the corresponding stamps.

It would seem that only one value per design is colour-trialled
and, for the 1961 original values, these are exactly the same as the
denominated die-proofs, together with the later issued 40 and 45c
Meritxell and the 60 and 90c Lake Engolasters values.

As with the earlier colour proofs, these colour trials sometimes
have additional annotated colour reference numbers. This series is
interesting in the fact that the original stamps issued in 1961 have
the old type of colour reference number, whilst later values printed
after 1965 (i.e. 90c Lake Engolasters issued in 1971) have the new
style reference numbers. Details of these reference numbers were
given in
Part 1
of these articles
(Bulletin No 35), and are shown on the colour page of this bulletin.

The exact number of colour trials printed is not known, but one
thousand copies is a figure that has been quoted in the past. This
would indicate a print-run of some forty sheets and, if this is
correct, it would seem some were destined for other than prescribed
uses - such as "highly placed officials" and, ultimately, the
philatelic trade.

Check-List

De Luxe Proofs

These exist for all postage and airmail values. However, there
is a major difference when compared to the previous issues. These
are the first de luxe proofs to be printed without the indentation
which appeared on all earlier examples. The indentation was the
result of the pressure of the die from which each proof was printed
individually. It appears that this current series (and subsequent
issues) were printed from special printing cylinders. These were
capable of producing several impressions at each revolution, with
the proofs subsequently being guillotined to size.

Another interesting feature is that this period covers the time
the change of the name of the Printing Works from "Atelier de
Fabrication des Timbres-Poste. PARIS" to "IMPRIMERIE DES TIMBRES-
POSTE - PARIS". Then, in June 1970, when the printing works moved
to Perigueux, the inscription became "IMPRIMERIE DES TIMBRES-P0STE -
FRANCE". Further variations include the disappearance of the
control punch in 1967, and a slight difference of style and length
in the inscription for the two values, 40 and 60c, issued in 1965
(see check-list for details and illustrations). It is also
interesting to note that the above mentioned 40 and 60c values (Yv
159A, 161A), issued in April 1965, had the modified "Atelier de
Fabrication des Timbres-Poste - Paris" inscription, even though the
10f Airmail (Yv PA 8) issued a year earlier in April 1964 had the
new correct "IMPRIMERIE DES TIMBRES-POSTE-PARIS" inscription.
However, a glance at the coins-datés of the 40 and 60c values, shows
that they were both printed in December 1963, nearly sixteen months
before being issued, and this explains why these two de luxe proofs
carry the inscription used prior to 1964.

Check-list

a)

42.5mm in length and with official control punch

Andorran Arms

1, 2, 5, 10, 12, 15, 18 & 20c

Yv 153A/157 (8)

Meritxell Cross

25, 30, 45 & 50c

Yv 158/9,160/1(4)

Lake Engolasters

65, 85c & lf

Yv 162/3, 164 (3)

Incles Valley

2, 3 & 5f

Yv PA 5/7 (3)

b)

41.00mm in length and with official control punch

Meritxell Cross

40c

Yv 159A (1)

Lake Engolasters

60c

Yv 161A (1)

c)

34.00mm in length and without control punch

Meritxell Cross

45c

Yv 204 (1)

Incles Valley

10f

Yv PA 8 (1)

d)

37mm in length and without control punch

Lake Engolasters

90c

Yv 163A (1)

single proofs: 13.00 x 10.00cm - Yv 153A/164 + 204, PA 5/8 (23)

Imperforates

All values exist imperforate in the same sheet form as the issued
stamps, with the exception of the later re-issued 45c value (Yv 204)
issued in 1970. Therefore, the Arms design was issued in sheets of
100, and the Meritxell Cross, Lake Engolasters and Incles Valley
designs in sheets of 25. The 45c value (Yv 204) was issued in small
sheets of 4 with marginal albino impressions - as illustrated in
Part 1
of Bulletin No 35.

Check-list

The colour illustration which follows was included in the Valira
Torrent as part of the celebration of the 20th anniversary of APSC.
High resolution (600 dpi) printed copies can be purchased from APSC.
It can also be supplied as a compressed file on floppy disk.
For more information see
APSC 20th Anniversary Souvenirs